Some time ago I decided start to collect practical middle game landings and problems. I came over several problem books and selected best positions with number of mans on each side no more than 6. I comeup in total with 100 positions, but it is obvious, that this number shall be around 500-800. Most worse thing happened - I didn't write down solution !!!

All these 100 positions are stored somewhere on my PC in one Word document, but to get a right solutions - I've to spend now the same time to research all books I used !

Finally - I decided to share with forum readers some positions from my collection. Try to solve them w/o using programs. This is very good practice and training tool

Are you ready to help me to recover solution for my compilation ? Remember - solution should cover all reasonable and interesting continuations from both sides.

#1. T. WiswellWhite to move and draw

#2. C. BrownWhite to move and win

#3. E. DurginWhite to move and draw

#4. G. PriceRed to move and win

#5. J. RobertsonWhite to move and win

#6. A. MoiseyevWhite to move and draw

#7. #7 C.Brown&A.Stewart Red to move and draw

#8. J. JaniverWhite to move and win.

Last edited by Alex_Moiseyev on Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Wow Alex, you are putting some work out there! I think 26-23 is the draw move on the first one, but I could not see all of the solutions to the end. I will have to take a stab at these if there are any left!

I am expecting and accepting now solutions for the second position (see diagram C) from initial set.

C C Brown. White to move and win

You can use programs if you really want, but in this case you have to provide all "beauty variations", not just one winning move. You have to work hard with database, building solution "move by move". This is very interesting and not a "trivia work"

Hi, Jonathon ! Thanks for your fine research. For 3 days, after I made post - I was almost crying and thinking if anyone ever read it and try to solve problems. And also - if anyone need it. I am OK with audience in any number greater than 0 !

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Trully, I didn't have a full solution of this position in front me, when I posted it here. I had remember a main idea (trunk play), but didn't remember all details. Today I reveiewed this position fully with Nemesis 8 pieces database.

I agree with all your lines and way you represented solution, only couple corrections :

1. I cut off a bit main line, because we call "1st position" any situation with 2 pieces against 2 withg right move. Therefore, I stopped it after trade 2 for 2 - becasue this is already 1st position.

2. I think it make sense to add to solution variation B (see below) - explanation, why 31-26 draw ! See diagram #1 - this is core point. If white don't play 31-26 ? in the beginning, they can play later 31-27 and go around to square 14. Very nice ! Agree ?

A. 10-15 (A1), 3-7, 15-19(or 15-18, 31-27) plays into the same position as trunk.

B. 31-26 ? 10-15* 7-3 15-18* 3-7 1-5 Draw !

#1. White to move, red draw

#2. White to move and win31-27*

Jonathon, as I said - I am OK with way you represented solution, but for official recording I would suggest another way (see below). As you can see - it shorter and has only summary information. Each letter and trunk line represents new idea and new line. Anything else - just different order of moves into one of these 3 lines.

After checking solution with 8 pieces database, I feel comfortable now to keep this solution as official, even if author, Mr. C. Brown, had it slight different.

By using 8 pieces database and looking around, I find wonderful way to extend Mr. Brown problem and improve it by adding couple more ideas and variations. See diagram below (do you like these colors ? I hate them !)

I had a hard time to name properly an author - C. Brown, or C. brown & A. Moiseyev. Finally I decided to keep author rights 100% for Mr. Brown, because his ideas and variations still dominate here, and my additions are about 10%-15% of whole things.

Yes that is a very nice extension on Mr. Brown's problem. Actually I'd almost consider it a new theme, because the key to the other problem was whites ability to move 18-14 forcing white to take the 2 for 2 into first position or allow the man on 6 to be captured. This problem has similar starting position, but the winning sequence is different.

Thanks for pointing my mistake I expected solution the same, but ... after 5-9 white can win 8-3 or 31-27 (not 8-4). This is a very serious bag for problem and it is called: DUAL. At that point - forget about "REVISED" version, it can't be publish in this way, because duals are not allowed and you can't find them in problems of experienced and respected composers.

A. 1-5 21-17 into trunk. (29-25 loses by 6-9 14-10 9-14 10-7 5-9 27-23 18-27 25-22 9-13 7-2 27-31 2-6 14-17 21-14 31-26 RW.) I included this because it was initially my trunk draw until I typed it up here and realized red could pitch back and win.

J_D_C_ wrote:To me it is harder to find draws in problems than wins, but I believe this is the solution.

Hi, dear Jonathon !

Thanks for your tremendous efforts to solve these problems. I know - this is not easy, and all these problems are at the high level quality and complexity. This particular problem is one of my best problems which I am really proud. I composed it base on one of my real games with Mike Ross from North Carolina State ty 2004. I also used a help of 8 pieces database to compose this problem.

Below is my email, dated 1/17/2005 to Wilma Wolverton, editor of MCA Newsletter, where I offered her this problem for the February monthly problem. If I am not mistaken - problem was selected "as monthly problem" for March issue and published there.

See copy of email with full complete solution.

Especially, I would like to point your and other readers attention to variation D - most beautiful thing in problem !

If you didn't make selection yet for the February monthly problem, I am happy and honored to share with you and MCA Newsletter readers the problem I composed recently, and consider as one of the best draughts problems I ever did in the past !

Seems I was wrong with nearly all of my analysis . I remember now seeing the 20-24 move instead of 23-19 on move 7 of my analysis. I was going to go back and look at it, but at first glance I thought it was just delaying reds attack even further, and later forgot about it. Thanks for your quick response and for the correct play .